Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson are fighting for the right to become the UFC Interim Lightweight Champion when they collide in the main event of UFC 216.
Al Iaquinta is a top 15 ranked lightweight in the UFC and he feels that there are other fighters who should’ve gotten the title opportunity over Lee.
“There’s a lot of other people that should have gotten a title shot,” Iaquinta said on The MMA Hour. “He had a good interview. He was in the right place at the right time. He won the fight, Ferguson happened to be doing the FOX thing. They had a little back and forth. I think Kevin Lee, I don’t think he’s there.”
Iaquinta himself hasn’t been too active in recent years, with his last fight coming at UFC Fight Night 108 earlier this year
The New York native feels that Lee’s lack of standup ability is what’s going to cost him the title bout at UFC 216.
“I think Kevin Lee, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s a good wrestler,” Iaquinta said. “But his stand up is not there, he’s stiff. I don’t know. When I was growing up, I’d look at guys and I’d go, well he’s got some talent there, he’s good. He’s like championship worthy. Fighting brings out people. You can see what people are made of. I know exactly what he’s made of. I can see it clear as day.”
UFC 216 takes place on Saturday, October 7 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
